Admissions Testing

When admissions testing is required the division counselor administers standardized tests of the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) in English and mathematics. Candidates entering the Brazilian Program are also tested in Portuguese. Candidates are expected to fall within the range of percentiles achieved by admitted Escola Americana students.

Lower School students whose native language is not English will be required to take an English as a Second Language (ESL) test for placement into the ESL support program. The IPT (Idea Proficiency Test) assesses reading, writing and oral proficiency in English. The test results determine placement and the ESL program they will receive.

The Learning Specialist of the division and the School Psychologist review previous testing results of students with documented learning disabilities.    If necessary, specialized tests are administered to determine eligibility for Resource Center assistance.

Preschool, kindergarten, and first grade admission is based on an observation by a team consisting of 2 teachers, the Lower School Counselor, and the School Psychologist. Small groups of children participate in the observation which consists of developmentally-appropriate activities that assess language and motor skill development, listening comprehension, ability to follow directions and overall readiness. The observation session is conducted in Portuguese or English, depending on the language spoken by the children. The qualitative data of the observation is transformed into a quantitative score that has been normed to the school’s expectations for the student’s age. Candidates for first grade are also tested for basic reading and writing skills appropriate for students who have completed a kindergarten program or its equivalent.